Director Ridley Scott is making a return to the sci-fi genre after a long hiatus with this year's dystopian film The Dog Stars, starring Jacob Elordi and Josh Brolin. This will be Scott's first sci-fi film since 2017's Alien: Covenant. However, the original Alien, which is his most iconic achievement in the genre, is set to be removed from the streaming platform. The film is still available on HBO Max but will be taken down on May 21.

The original Alien premiered in 1979 and received a mixed reaction by combining a tense atmosphere with deep sci-fi concepts. The film introduced audiences to Sigourney Weaver's most famous character, Ellen Ripley. Weaver later reprised the role in a series of sequels, but Scott was not at the helm. Scott did not return to the franchise until Prometheus. Following the original Alien, James Cameron directed the equally acclaimed Aliens, and David Fincher's controversial Alien 3 marked his feature film directorial debut. Alien: Covenant, which followed Prometheus, did not achieve the expected success. In contrast, the upcoming Alien: Romulus in 2024 seems to be revitalizing the franchise. Along with the film's release, FX's Alien: Earth series created by Noah Hawley is also set to premiere.

Although the original Alien received mixed reviews upon its release, it is now considered a masterpiece. The review aggregation site Rotten Tomatoes gives it a "Certified Fresh" score of 93% and a consensus from critics stating, "A modern classic that seamlessly blends sci-fi, horror, and grim poetry." The film featured a cast that included Ian Holm, Tom Skerritt, Harry Dean Stanton, Yaphet Kotto, and John Hurt alongside Scott in the director's chair. With a production budget of approximately $10 million, the film grossed around $200 million worldwide, achieving box-office success and earning its place among cult classics.